Ruminal degradability of hard or soft texture corn grain at three maturity stages

The predominance of vitreous endosperm in hard texture flint corn (Zea mays L.) can decrease ruminal starch digestion comparatively to the farinaceous endosperm of dent corn, reducing energy content of the grain. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of texture and maturity stage on ruminal degradability of corn grain. Two dent and two flint hybrids were harvested at the early dent, half milk line, and black layer stages. The proportion of vitreous endosperm (vitreousness) in dent hybrids was 44.3%, while in flint it was 67.0%. There was a linear increase in vitreousness with advancing maturity. Flint hybrids at the early dent stage were more vitreous than dent at the black layer stage. The increase in vitreousness per maturation day was greater for flint hybrids. Grains were incubated in situ in the rumen of 6 cows. The 24-hour ruminal dry matter degradation was 63.3% for dent corn and 52.4% for flint corn. The 72-hour incubation residues of dent and flint hybrids were 7.6% and 15.6%, respectively. Ruminal degradability was similar between hybrids at the early dent and half milk line stages. There was a marked texture effect on ruminal degradability at the black layer stage (quadratic effect of maturity stage and interaction between texture and maturity stage). Use of dent hybrids, compared to flint hybrids, may result in smaller relative reduction in ruminal starch digestion in situations of late grain harvesting. A predominância de endosperma vítreo em milho (Zea mays L.) flint de textura dura pode deprimir a digestão ruminal do amido comparativamente ao endosperma farináceo de milho dentado, reduzindo o conteúdo energético do grão. O objetivo deste experimento foi avaliar os efeitos da textura e do estádio de maturidade sobre a degradabilidade ruminal de grãos de milho. Dois híbridos dentados e dois duros foram colhidos nos estádios dentado inicial, metade da linha do leite e linha preta. A proporção de endosperma vítreo (vitreosidade) dos híbridos dentados foi 44,3% e a dos duros foi 67,0%. Ocorreu aumento linear na vitreosidade com o avançar da maturidade. Os híbridos duros no estádio dentado inicial foram mais vítreos que os dentados no estádio linha preta. O aumento na vitreosidade por dia de maturação foi maior nos híbridos duros. Os grãos foram incubados in situ no rúmen de 6 vacas. A degradação ruminal da matéria seca em 24 horas foi 63,3% nos grãos dentados e 52,4% nos duros. O resíduo após 72 horas de incubação de híbrid